Lexus RX300

Third Place: Designer-Ute Smackdown

JOHN PHILLIPS

Dec 1, 2000

AARON KILEY

Since we first drove the Camry-derived RX300 in 1998, we’ve fallen in love with the car. Er, SUV. Er, tall wagon. It has changed little since then, although the 2001 model now includes standard electronic skid control and brake assist.

That this vehicle feels so carlike should puzzle no one. In this group, the RX300 is the shortest, narrowest, lowest, and lightest entry. If most of your driving is conducted in heavy traffic, this is the SUV to buy. It is agile, quick to duck into small places, easy to back up, and surpassed in braking competence by the BMW only. Heck, it even delivers the best fuel economy.

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Although its shrink-wrapped exterior constricts its cargo capacity, the Lexus repays its owner with ergonomically stellar biscuit-colored seats that we judged the best in SUV-dom. Not only was the RX300 a winner in our driver-comfort category, but it nabbed a trophy for two-person rear-seat comfort, too.

In Ohio, the RX300’s logbook began to percolate with accolades: “rock-solid platform,” “stable,” “super-low wind and tire noise,” “silky V-6,” “steering that is linear,” “a ride so good you’ll swear you’re in a car.”

There remain, however, a few un-Toyota-like details: a parking brake that intrudes on the dead pedal, an overdrive switch clinging like an afterthought to the side of the shift lever, and four identically sized climate-control and radio knobs. Not surprisingly, the Lexus also lost points as it whimpered along our off-road trail: no dedicated low range, no usable engine compression for braking, and girly passenger-car tires. With the least ground clearance of this bunch, the RX300 had difficulty stepping over a felled tree the others climbed easily. Still, it completed the route, although throughout it resembled a poodle in the midst of a coon-hound trial.

This is a quiet, ingratiating vehicle whose on-road poise and wholesale absence of truckishness do much to overcome its paucity of off-road skills. And if your daily agenda includes no rock hopping, opt for the $34,440 front-drive RX300. Talk about great value.